GREENSBORO, N.C. — A controversial rezoning request in Greensboro is moving forward.
Tuesday city council voted to approve Cone Health's request to rezone land off Friendly Avenue.
It's the site of Centenary United Methodist Church, and the idea has gotten a lot of pushback.
City council unanimously approved the rezoning saying it aligns with the city 2040 plan.
The area was zoned residential and will now be used for institutional and office space.
The rezoning approval will now make the area a complete healthcare block with other Cone facilities next to the site.
Council members said Cone Health has a proven track record of developments that benefit the community.
“Cone has committed $150 million to underserved neighborhoods. They’ve committed a $54 million investment at Pyramid Village off Cone Blvd,” said council member Zack Matheny.
“I appreciate the efforts they went through in ruling out additional uses and making sure they gave neighbors as much protection as they could,” said council member Tammi Thurm.
But some neighbors feel rezoning West Friendly is the furthest thing from protection.
Cone said they don't have solid plans for the property yet, but when they do it will require them to tear down Centenary United Methodist Church.
“The absence of a plan for the property places a burden of anxiety on nearby homeowners dooming them to years of possible uncertainty,” said a Friendly Avenue resident who spoke at Tuesday's meeting.
“That’s always the colonizers mindset,” said Sarah who lives on Friendly Avenue. “What can I do for myself ignoring my neighbors. There is no short-term or long-term idea and effects that it has on neighbors.”
Residents felt the respectful thing to do would be to buy the property at the current zoning and then request rezoning when they have a solid plan set for the land.
Cone Health has agreed to zoning conditions.
Some of them include being mindful of lighting near residential areas and having anything they decided to build sit back on the property to not impede on neighbors.
The church has sold the property to Cone and supports the rezoning.